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genetic variation

/ʤəˈnɛtɪk ˌvɛriˈeɪʃən/
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Other forms: genetic variations

Genetic variation, which explains why you and your siblings may not have the same hair or eye color, is the difference in DNA between individuals of the same species.

Members of the same species are very similar to each other, with nearly identical genomes. However, there's also room for genetic variation, which allows for differences between individuals and helps entire populations adapt to changing environments. Genetic variation is caused by random gene mutations, gene flow between populations, and reproduction. These slight differences in genes are what make us unique, despite the fact that we share 99.5 percent of our genetic material with every other human.

Definitions of genetic variation
  1. noun
    differences seen in the DNA gene sequences of individuals within the same species
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